Santorum ad targets Newt's moon base

2/3/12 10:14 AM EST

Rick Santorum is preparing to go after Newt Gingrich’s proposal for a lunar base in a new radio ad, according to the former senator’s top strategist.

Santorum adviser John Brabender said the ad will be running on national satellite radio, along with another, spot already airing that casts Santorum as a stronger conservative choice than Gingrich. The idea is to criticize Gingrich for proposing fiscally irresponsible, pie-in-the-sky ideas when base GOP voters are deeply concerned about the deficit.

“We’re putting an ad up today addressing Newt Gingrich’s comments on the moon colony idea, which has been estimated at half a trillion dollars to build what he wants to do,” Brabender told POLITICO. “He says this is about America thinking big.”

“The American dream also includes giving each generation a chance,” he said. “I don’t think Obama’s done that for the next generation and I don’t think Newt Gingrich’s ideas will do that for the next generation.”

After steering (mostly) clear of direct confrontation, Santorum and Gingrich have been sparring more directly in the last few days, and the Pennsylvanian plainly sees Gingrich’s Florida flop as an opening to sell himself to conservatives as the superior anti-Romney candidate.